Duke City Fix

Life, food, events, and community in Albuquerque, NM

Laura

looming water crisis



I generally try to restrict environmental obsessions to posts on my blog, but I can't pass up the opportunity to point this news story out to anyone who cares about the future of Albuquerque and New Mexico.

Here's an excerpt from a Reuters story, titled, "Scientists see looming water crisis in western U.S.":

Trends over the past half century foreshadow a worsening decline in water, perhaps the region's most valuable natural resource, even as population and demand expands in western states, researchers led by a scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography wrote in the journal Science on Thursday.

Up to 60 percent of changes in three key factors affecting the West's water cycle -- river flow, winter air temperatures and snow pack -- are due to human-caused climate change, they determined using multiple computer models and data analysis.

"Our results are not good news for those living in the western United States," wrote the team led by Tim Barnett, a climate expert at Scripps Institution, part of the University of California at San Diego.

"It foretells of water shortages, lack of storage capability to meet seasonally changing river flow, transfers of water from agriculture to urban uses and other critical impacts."

Barnett said computer models point to a looming crisis in water supply in the coming two decades.

Why don't people seem alarmed by this? And is the reason behind that the same reason why the words "global warming" aren't uttered during the Democratic debates?

And that picture? You probably can't see the words, but they read, "Life vest inside seat compartment for flight attendant only."


30 Comments

ridin Comment by ridin on January 31, 2008 at 10:35pm
"Why don't people seem alarmed by this?" -- Because it's human nature to ignore gradually developing threats in favor of immediate crises. We're wired that way. Drought threatens the crops next year...? Better survival strategy is to pay attention to the wolf pack that just moved in over the hill.

I never thought Bill R brought much to the presidential talent show, but one of his planks that really did resonate with me was his call for a Federal water policy. With states embarking on squabbles in earnest, someone is going to have to figure out a way to handle the huge suplpy/demand imbalance. I'm no fan of bigger government, but this has gotten to be more like a "national defense" issue than a "states' rights" concern.

Some kind of management--and a lot of foresight--is necessary. Next time you have a thoughtful half hour to spend, you might enjoy reading a recent NYT Magazine piece on this, found here.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/magazine/21water-t.html?scp=8&sq=drought&st=nyt

Cheers~~
Mary Schmidt Comment by Mary Schmidt on February 1, 2008 at 10:13am
Well, we also have to learn that one can't (shouldn't) grow alfalfa in the desert. Agriculture still accounts for something like 80% of our water usage in the state .

To earlier comments, the whole "water crisis" is just too big. If it comes down to (and it will, if we don't do something) having water with which to shower once a week...then we'll get interested.
The Grand Panjandrum Comment by The Grand Panjandrum on February 1, 2008 at 10:14am
It is for this very reason (looming water shortage) that the scale tilted in favor of moving to New England. I have two young children (Kindergarten) and I see no political will for real change to occur here in NM. A few politicians have good intentions, but most are mired in traditional head in the sand nonsense.

Unfortunately, IMO, the problems may be so great that the government will have to make some draconian decisions in the future. I have no desire to be around when it gets to that point.
John Fleck Comment by John Fleck on February 1, 2008 at 11:06am
Panjandrum -

It's not clear that moving to a wetter part of the country gets you anything. An academic acquaintance of mine who recently completed a study of the relationship between water supply and demand in one of those northeastern wet climate states coined a description for the situation there: a "storage drought." By that he means that even though the climate is wetter, the human-water system has the same basic problems. We build our human institutions - dams, water pipelines, etc., along with the cities that depend on them - out to the edge of what the climate has to offer, whatever that might be. So when dry years happen (as we're seeing this year in Atlanta) you're just as screwed, whether you're in a wet climate or a dry.

Another of my smart climate-society friends defines drought as, essentially, "less water than you've come to depend on." That's just as likely to happen in a wet climate as in an arid one.
bleve Comment by bleve on February 1, 2008 at 12:13pm
I think Mary brings up a big point in that societies and governments should be adapting to their environments as opposed to making the environment function the same way across the board... that's just rational and logical planning. Phoenix will find that out soon enough along with California and us.

I think there are large amounts of people who find this alarming but A.G. brings up a good point in that many people feel that they don't have a voice. That's one end of the problem, the other end being the willing pacification of a large segment of the population with the nonsense that they put in their head by watching television every night. Many people's "realities" aren't reality at all.

I really think it takes acting at a local level to combat this. We need to make it a priority at the legislative sessions, city and county commission elections etc. We need to elect officials who will address this.
Doc Mara Comment by Doc Mara on February 1, 2008 at 12:17pm
"what are we supposed to do about it? "

Make every decision with the global warming (which is really the root cause of the water shortage) in mind.

Every decision is a chance to make the situation better or worse. Speak out, yes (including with everyone you know--don't just let them bully you into letting them not have to deal with the truth), BUT ALSO when you are weighing day-to-day issues (like whether you either want "more house for the money" or a smaller, more earth-friendly house) use accounting that tips actions towards what you value. Live what you know. People that continually make decisions to make things worse DON'T care about global warming more than they care about other, less pressing things like butt comfort, prestige, etc. People show what they care about by how they live.
Mary Schmidt Comment by Mary Schmidt on February 1, 2008 at 12:26pm
And, remind your friends to not let the faucet run! Sure, it's a little thing - but it's also indicative of an attitude we can no longer afford to have. As for it being wetter back East - as noted above, it simply means they waste more water. (I lived in Philly for 8 years and cringed every time I watched one of my friends run the faucet full blast the entire time she was cleaning up the kitchen. "Oh, we live in a wet area," she blithely noted.) Water is a global finite resource and there's only so much of it. (We're drinking the water as the dinosaurs did...)

Years ago, some big brain think in Harper's Mag predicted the next world war would be fought over water - and then it really won't matter if you live in the wet or the dry (a condition that can change very quickly - as we've seen in Atlanta and other places)...and now with Global Heating, there really is no "safe" place. You get water, then you may end up in the next big hurricane, etc.
Mary Schmidt Comment by Mary Schmidt on February 1, 2008 at 12:28pm
As you may be able to tell, this is one of my hot button issues. And, as bleve noted, we can work at the local level. Literally every drop (and vote) counts.
Doc Mara Comment by Doc Mara on February 1, 2008 at 12:33pm
Every decision has its price. We're just willing to pay the price for our bad decisions. We just have to decide differently.
Lora Comment by Lora on February 1, 2008 at 12:42pm
Hearing about the "Looming Water Crisis" -- Mayor Marty had this to say --

"Thanks for your note. The San Juan Chama water source is as reliable as any river source in America. Clearly, if we don't successfully address climate change, there will be no "human" issues anywhere on our globe."

Sincerely,

Martin Chavez

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